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Marching Pioneers to debut new uniforms

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PLATTEVILLE, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Marching Pioneers will soon be performing at pregame and halftime ceremonies at UW-Platteville Pioneer home football games in new uniforms.

“We are very excited about the new uniforms,” said Matthew Gregg, director of the Marching Pioneers and associate director of bands at UW-Platteville. “We worked closely with Stanbury, the uniform company, to ensure that the new uniform fabric will be durable and comfortable during temperature extremes and with UW-Platteville’s University Information and Communications to ensure that the design will be consistent with the university’s new labeling.”

The 200 new uniforms should arrive just in time for the UW-Platteville Department of Performing and Visual Arts’ Last Blast Concert, a special, final Marching Pioneers performance to be held on Sunday, Nov. 10, at 10:30 a.m. in the UW-Platteville Williams Fieldhouse. During the performance, the Marching Pioneers will play music they played both on the field and in the stands during football games throughout the season. The event is free and open to the public. The band will debut the new uniforms the previous day at the last home football game.

The Marching Pioneers membership has grown from 77 students in fall 2004 to its current membership of 170 students. “The students currently wear member T-shirts and shorts because we don’t have enough of the old uniforms for everyone to have one,” said Gregg. “Even if we had enough uniforms, they are 20 years old and somewhat worn and do not exhibit the new UW-Platteville logo and branding.”

The members of the band consist of students from a wide variety of disciplines, including music, engineering, agriculture, criminal justice and more. Each year, approximately two-thirds to three-fourths of Marching Pioneers members are non-music majors.

“Being a part of the Marching Pioneers is an excellent way for students to keep music as a part of their lives, no matter what course of study they choose to pursue,” said Gregg. “Many Marching Pioneers also join music fraternities or other university music ensembles, such as jazz, orchestra, concert band, choir or pep band.”

The Marching Pioneers have performed halftime shows for the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field and the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. They have also performed at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minn., and at many high schools in Wisconsin. With as many as 10 annual field shows, parades and concert performances combined, the Marching Pioneers are seen by 70,000 people, making it one of the most visible organizations on campus.

In addition to performing at the Last Blast Concert on Nov. 10, the Marching Pioneers will perform in UW-Platteville’s Homecoming parade in downtown Platteville on Oct. 5, at the UW-Platteville versus UW-Eau Claire football game in the Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium on Oct. 5, at the UW-Platteville versus UW-Stout football game in the Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium on Oct. 26, and at the UW-Platteville versus UW-La Crosse football game in the Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium on Nov. 9.

Those interested in helping offset the cost of the new uniforms will have an opportunity to make a donation at the Homecoming luncheon on Oct. 5 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. in UW-Platteville’s Velzy Commons, Ullsvik Hall, or at the 50-year alumni reunion at UW-Platteville’s Rountree Hall on Oct. 5 from 1-3 p.m. Donations may also be made directly to the UW-Plattevillle Foundation, LAE Chapter.